International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, 400088, India.
Department of Fertility and Social Demography, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, 400088, India.
Reprod Health. 2023 Mar 30;20(1):55. doi: 10.1186/s12978-023-01603-1.
Menstruation is a normal biological process that all women go through, yet it is shrouded in secrecy, taboos, and even stigma in many societies. Studies have shown that women from socially disadvantaged groups are more likely to have preventable reproductive health issues and have less understanding of hygienic menstrual practices. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an insight into the most sensitive issue of menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among the women of the Juang tribe, recognized as one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) in India.
A cross-sectional study using a mixed-method approach was carried out among Juang women in Keonjhar district of Odisha, India. Quantitative data was gathered from 360 currently married women to assess practices associated with menstruation and its management. In addition, 15 focus group discussions and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the views of Juang women on menstrual hygiene practices, cultural beliefs, menstrual problems, and treatment-seeking behaviour. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data, while descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were used to analyse quantitative data.
Most Juang women (85%) used old clothes as absorbents during menstruation. Distance from the market (36%), lack of awareness (31%), and high cost (15%) were cited as the contributing factors to the low level of sanitary napkin usage. Around 85% of women were restricted from participating in religious activities, and 94% avoided social gatherings. Seventy-one percent of the Juang women experienced menstrual problems, while only one-third of them sought treatment for their problems.
Hygienic practices during menstruation are far from satisfactory among Juang women in Odisha, India. Menstrual problems are common, and the treatment sought is insufficient. There is a need for awareness generation on menstrual hygiene, the adverse effects of menstrual problems, and the provision of low-cost sanitary napkins among this disadvantaged, vulnerable tribal group.
月经是所有女性都要经历的正常生理过程，但在许多社会中，它仍然被蒙上了神秘、禁忌甚至污名的面纱。研究表明，来自社会弱势群体的女性更容易出现可预防的生殖健康问题，对卫生的经期实践了解较少。因此，本研究旨在深入了解印度乔恩哈地区的庄族人在月经和经期卫生习惯方面最敏感的问题。庄族人被认为是印度特别脆弱的部落群体（PVTG）之一。
本研究采用混合方法的横断面研究，在印度奥里萨邦的乔恩哈区对庄族妇女进行了研究。定量数据来自 360 名目前已婚的妇女，以评估与月经及其管理相关的实践。此外，还进行了 15 次焦点小组讨论和 15 次深入访谈，以探讨庄族妇女对经期卫生习惯、文化信仰、经期问题和寻求治疗行为的看法。采用归纳内容分析法分析定性数据，采用描述性统计和卡方检验分析定量数据。
大多数庄族妇女（85%）在经期使用旧衣服作为吸收剂。距离市场远（36%）、缺乏意识（31%）和成本高（15%）被认为是导致卫生棉使用率低的原因。大约 85%的妇女被限制参加宗教活动，94%的妇女避免社交聚会。71%的庄族妇女经历过经期问题，但只有三分之一的妇女为这些问题寻求治疗。
印度奥里萨邦的庄族妇女在经期卫生习惯方面远不理想。经期问题很常见，但寻求的治疗却不足。需要在这个弱势群体中开展关于经期卫生、经期问题的不良影响以及提供低成本卫生棉的意识教育。
